Anyone up for an interview?

[Vladimir Davi]

I'm working on a nonfiction book about exotic and interesting subcultures, and Second Life is by far one of the most populous out there.

The main topics will mostly be about how SL members talk and interact with each other in a cultural context. I'm VERY interested in seeing some business success stories, so that I can discuss Second Life's powerful economy. The more involved you are in the user-generated content, as well as the social aspect, deems you more fit for inclusion.

I need permission to use your name and the content of the interview in a possibly-for-profit work. I might edit it depending on how things go, but the content will remain 98% the same.

Depending on how things go and if the book gets published, I've also considered releasing a "Second Life Edition" at a lower price. Should I go ahead and do this, anyone I interview will get a free copy. This, however, is unlikely.

[Rihanna Irata]

Hey,

 

If you are still looking i can answer your questions, ive been around here for few years and did several things, might not be the most usefull persona around here but if you are interested ill be glad to help you

[Pussycat Catnap]

If you want subcultures - you really don't want to focus on the business and content creators. You want to focus on the various socializers. People hooked into communities both as the ones running them, and folks who are regular members of them. And then a few people who dabble around.

This is just yet another one of those "people who don't have any connection or understanding to SL wanting to do up a quick study from the outside looking in..."

I see your account dates to 2009, 10 days newer than mine... but you have no profile, no posts here, no feed, not even an avatar image...

These things do not inspire confidence in your ability to know who to talk to, what to talk about, and so on.

 

[Syo Emerald]

SL is not a subculture, it contains subcultures such as the furry comunity for example. Using photoshop and blender knowledge and skill for business is not really what makes people a part of something to call subculture. Its odd that your account is that old but your question doesn't look like you have any experiance with the socialside of SL.

[Thinkerer Melville]

I will be happy to arrange an interview with you.  

I have been in SL since 2005.

Feel free to contact me in SL and to send me a friend invite if you wish. 

I write a blog that may have content useful to you:

http://virtualoutworlding.blogspot.com/

This post, in particular, may be of interst to you:

What do we do in Virtual Worlds? 2012

I am fairly flexible on time (Texas time zone)

Thinkerer Melville

 

[Vladimir Davi]

Okay, okay, I'll clarify the exact point I stand on:

I want to view not only a culture, but the system on which it is built. I have studied SL, it's userbase, and it's economy for quite awhile now, and, let's face it, for people who don't know much about Second Life, entrepeneurship is an exciting prospect that adds interest to any discussion on the topic. Economics are an aspect of culture, maybe not the one to focus on, but it certainly plays a part in how people interact.

On that note, I do want members of other user-groups, any long-standing resident is great to talk to, even newcomers have their own spin to offer. The reason I prefer content creators is that they tend to be more well-versed in the social enviornment and what's popular. They also tend to spend more time in-game, if my profile is any indication of the opposite.

On that note, my account dates back as far as it does for a reason. I was an active resident, not just once but for several brief periods. I may not be that deep on the inside, but I'm not an outsider either, really. Even if I'd been big for months, I wouldn't expect to see me around these forums much. You're both correct, I don't know exactly what it is that makes Second Life exciting. But that's a good part of why I'm here.

[Perrie Juran]

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Vladimir Davi wrote:

The reason I prefer content creators is that they tend to be more well-versed in the social enviornment and what's popular. They also tend to spend more time in-game, if my profile is any indication of the opposite.

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Maybe in a very narrow way specific to their specialties they may be but as a broad generalization, you've got to be kidding me.

[Dillon Levenque]

 

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Perrie Juran wrote:

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Vladimir Davi wrote:

The reason I prefer content creators is that they tend to be more well-versed in the social enviornment and what's popular. They also tend to spend more time in-game, if my profile is any indication of the opposite.

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Maybe in a very narrow way specific to their specialties they may be but as a broad generalization, you've got to be kidding me.

---

I had much the same thought. I know that the Forum population is a tiny fraction of the general population in terms of raw numbers but we have a LOT of creators here, and I can't count the number if times I've seen something like, "...mostly these days I just stay on my own sim building; I don't get out much...".

[Orca Flotta]

The reason I prefer content creators is that they tend to be more well-versed in the social enviornment and what's popular.

 

No, that's BS! Most content creators are not really great socializers. They tend to be loners, spending their little time in-world with building and checking up on their stores (if they still have an in-world store, which less and less have). Nowadays content creation isn't done by torturing prims and stacking them up anymore but in offline 3D modelling software.

Social content creators are the people you want to ask, since they actually spend a lot of time inworld, socializing and playing with other avies. They know what's hot and what's not!

 

PS: I'm an ESLer and not good with English but if you really plan on writing a book you should clue up on your grammar and othography.

[Syo Emerald]

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Perrie Juran wrote:

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Vladimir Davi wrote:

The reason I prefer content creators is that they tend to be more well-versed in the social enviornment and what's popular. They also tend to spend more time in-game, if my profile is any indication of the opposite.

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Maybe in a very narrow way specific to their specialties they may be but as a broad generalization, you've got to be kidding me.

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Thats what I thought too.

 

Lets face it, what does the average content creator does? Mesh content is made in offline 3D programs. Textures and skins are made in offline graphicprograms such as photoshop and gimp. The rest, prims and sclupts get made on some lonly lag free sims on a platform high up in the sky.

Builders normaly don't talk much. They are focused on what they do and that is building. It eats up their time and when they are done...its already time for bed. They place their stuff in their stores and then they are done. Some even have created an alt to seperate building and customer support.

So...how does it come someone can think of content creators as the most social beings in SL? Content creators also don't have a special sense for what is fresh and popular, they just build something, maybe rebuild something old with new tools, and hope that it sells well.

All in all builders aren't a group of social active hipsters, who make money, build and party at the same time. I don't see any of your points fitting Vlad.

[Trinity Yazimoto]

Well... If you can deal with my bad english, you can contact me for an interview. Im french, in SL since 2009, started my business one year later, and almost daily online since my rezzday.

To some other posts above : Ok, i know, content creators spend a lot of time creating and do not often go outside their land. Its what is happening to me, i can deny it. My purpose when i log is never to have social contacts, i agree aswell. But... this is not what is happening at all !

First, i have a long friendlist and so, yes, i have a lot of ims as soon as i log, from people i really apreciate for their kindness, and yes, i always answer and i chat with them. Its often only chat, since im creating in the meantime, but still, its social contacts.

Secondly, I also deed time for my friends, for a lil shopping, hunts, games, or, lately, ice skating. I never refuse to a friend to meet her/him. This is not the biggest part of my time in SL but it happens more than rarely

I agree, my first willing, when i log in sl, would be to stay quiet and create in peace. But, no.... friends are also important than creating. So no, i wont never dismiss a firend who want a chat or hanging out. I will spend time with them, and then take on my personal time to finish what im creating.

Third, its same for the pp i meet in my store when im sending my notices for my Mm board or my gifts. I use to be in the store while i do this for welcoming the visitors. Yes, it takes a lot of time, Yes, i have to open group tabs, copy and paste my notice text and to join my adpic again and again since i m doing this in a lot of group (and in 3 languages), AND at the same time... answer in the local, or in my ims to the people who want to talk to me (in 3 languages aswell).

Im usually a bear, but when i really want to be a bear, i stay in my bedroom, door closed and i dont log in sl. When i come somewhere there are other pp and those ones wants to talk with me, the minimum of respect is to answer to them . 

Ive also have contacts with other content creators, in the big majority, they always answered and talked.

So, i dont agree with some post above mine. Generalisation never works. In the population of content creators you can find some bears, some who would like to be bear but are too polite or to kind or too educated  to really be, and some who are not bear at all and enjoy social contacts.

[Trinity Yazimoto]

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Syo Emerald wrote:

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Builders normaly don't talk much. They are focused on what they do and that is building. It eats up their time and when they are done...its already time for bed. They place their stuff in their stores and then they are done. Some even have created an alt to seperate building and customer support.

So...how does it come someone can think of content creators as the most social beings in SL? Content creators also don't have a special sense for what is fresh and popular, they just build something, maybe rebuild something old with new tools, and hope that it sells well.

 

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Do you really think all contents creators have been made on the same model ? have them all the same father and mother, ? the same culture ? the same education ? and the same mindset ?

this doesnt make any sense for me.....im a content creator, but i dont recognize me at all in what you are describing. Almost all the creators i know doesnt fit with your description aswell. And no, i really dont think that me or the creators i know are exception... 

Maybe you description fit to the creators YOU know. But please, stop puting every creators in the same basket...

[Thinkerer Melville]

I don't find you when I search inworld.  Is your profile not marked "Show in search"?

[Perrie Juran]

I didn't mean to start a war here with my comment.

It was the generality of the claim.

I know content creators also and they can be just as diverse in what they do with SL as the rest of the population.  A few I know almost never socialize outside of time with a few close friends.  Others are very social. 

Honestly, when I consider what the OP stated, "The main topics will mostly be about how SL members talk and interact with each other in a cultural context,"  if he really wants to get a grasp on this he should be talking with successful Club owners.  There are a number of Clubs that have been thriving for years now in SL.  What is it that makes them tick and accounts for their continued success?

 

eta:shpelling

[Trinity Yazimoto]

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Perrie Juran wrote:

I didn't mean to start a war here with my comment.

 

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Perrie, dont worry, i never understood you wanted to start a war with your comment. 

 

 

First, i read you here in this forum enought often to know that you have always fair comments. i know you are not a content creator but nevertheless you have always good advices and even really pertinent comments on creators topics. So no, ive never thought you was wanting to start a war with anywho here lol.

Second, you are not the only one who think creators are not social persons. Reading this thread i see really more peremptory posts than yours and this is not the first time i read this in the forum....And this is why i wanted to answer. 

I can swear that willing or not, i have tons of social activities in SL, sometimes really more than what id like to have, but in another hand, i really dont regret this. This is what makes SL so interesting and so exciting.

[Perrie Juran]

Thank you.  That is most kind of you to say.

[Morgaine Christensen]

Ooo..ooo...me...me....ME...pick me!    You mean there are others out there just  like me? LOL....please add me to the creator's list "...mostly these days I just stay on my own sim building; I don't get out much...".  Thank you so very much!

Happy Holidays!

[Trinity Yazimoto]

More than kind, Perrie, that was really sincere :smileywink:

[Syo Emerald]

I haven't said all content creators are like that, I just wanted to underline why I don't see what unique trait makes creators the best group to research when it comes to the topics (socializing and knowing whats popular) the OP named here.

Every creator is a unique and diverse person, you don't have to tell me that I know it already....BUT if the OP wants to see them as a subculture within SL, the one thing that all have in common (which therefor has to be the thing that defines this "subculture") is building and creating something.

BUT building and creating is not a social thing itself. While someone is building he/she is probably not that interested in writing that much in IMs, often not even being in SL is needed (Blender, Photoshop and else). And that is why I don't see creators as the ideal subculture to research in this case. Since people often are part of more than one subculture it would make more sense to look at other subcultures where its easier to find a strong socialization aspect. "Knowing whats popular" is in my eyes not tied to anykind of special subculture.

[Trinity Yazimoto]

let me just quote for you what you said in a post before : 

"

Builders normaly don't talk much. They are focused on what they do and that is building. It eats up their time and when they are done...its already time for bed. They place their stuff in their stores and then they are done. Some even have created an alt to seperate building and customer support.

So...how does it come someone can think of content creators as the most social beings in SL? Content creators also don't have a special sense for what is fresh and popular, they just build something, maybe rebuild something old with new tools, and hope that it sells well."

you didnt said some builders, you said '"builders normally dont..." "they are ..."... "they place their stuff..." "content creators also dont have a special sense..." etc.

This is really different than some or several creators. and this is nothing but generalisation. And forgive me, but im a creator and i dont recognize me at all in this description. You're not the only one to say this kind of things about creators, its not the first time i read this in the forum, and i think it was fair i bring some nuances in your description to tell, no... all creators are not on the same model.

Now, i may understand your argument about creators are prob not the better group to research about social interactions, but my opinion, is that maybe the op hasnt been really clear in his description and purpose for his works. Anyway, whatever im thinking about if creators are a good group or a bad one for his research, i think he's in better place to know what he s looking for...its his own research, i dont think that me, you, or everyone else here would know better than him what he needs for his study.

[Dillon Levenque]

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Morgaine Christensen wrote:

Ooo..ooo...me...me....ME...pick me!    You mean there are others out there just  like me? LOL....please add me to the creator's list "...mostly these days I just stay on my own sim building; I don't get out much...".  Thank you so very much!

 

Happy Holidays!

---

 

I can't tell whether you are just teasing or are possibly offended by my post; I hope it isn't the latter. I did indicate I see a lot of comments like that in the Forum because I do. I did not intend to make it apply to everyone (it quite clearly does not apply to Trinity), but rather I was commenting on the OP's generalization—that seemed to me off the mark. Still does.

[Pussycat Catnap]

Syo's point rings here as well.

If you are trying to pick the link with which to hook into SL's social scene - content creator is not it.

You need something which is indicative of social.

That some merchants or creators are social is great. But its not indicative of them. I do feel that the common trait for them might be 'less social - but even if I am wrong, I am still right... Being social is -not- an indicative trait for the creator or merchant scenes, regardless of its opposite being one or not.

I would say club owners are not it either though. They're a very unusual bunch. A pack of people dedicated to losing as much money as fast as they can, and in finding out how to hurt their wallets the most for as little reward as they can possibly derive from it - it takes an unusual brand of person to -stay- in the SL club business. You need a motivation that sticks like the NRA on a politican, or a pink poodle in a socialite's handbag...

Most people just aren't that nuts.

Even in SL.

You really do -not- want to be narrowing down to one scene or you are failing to analyze cultures... and just getting 'one culture.'

A sample size of 1 does not make a trend...

-IF- you must say "from these kinds of residents" then you need to socialite types.

You need to hit the clubs, shops, infohubs, hangouts, and so on... listen to chat... and start bugging anyone who's active...

- of course some of them will get nasty or AR you for hassling them... which is one lesson about SL culture itself...

And none of this will give you an accurate picture.

 

The only way to do that is to be a resident yourself. Not just somebody holding onto a dead account from almost 4 years ago... but an actual member of the active community.

You need to be beyond just embedded... you need to actually get in here and join SL. Not make an account, but join.

 

[161488303349]

Vladimir you can stop writing your book now. everybody writing it for you already. and they even now furiously wrting their critiques of it and each other

so is a bestseller already q; (:

+

can understand what you intend tho

 like you want to write a non-fiction book that center on the SL economy and the interaction of creators within this. and the cultural aspects that come out of it

sounds quite interesting. if you ever do finish and publish then i be happy to get/read it

 

[Orca Flotta]

Hm, just hinking if Vlad is looking for social people her should pick me. I'm so social, even supersocial they had to invent a new word for folks like me: socialist.

That, in SLs frame of mind, sets me right in a subculture, a minority of freaks.

Too bad I'm not up for that interview if it starts with weak definitions and wrong assumptions about his target group.

 

[Melita Magic]

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Orca Flotta wrote:

Hm, just hinking if Vlad is looking for social people her should pick me. I'm so social, even supersocial they had to invent a new word for folks like me: socialist.

 

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Or more like 'socialista.'

I'm not offended by the use of the word 'subculture.' Considering how many people are in SL or even know about it, vs. the world population, it's not only a subculture but a tiny one.

Within that subculture are other subcultures or groups. (Not all groups are or, more accurately, represent, subcultures.)

If you include SL in the 'gamer' culture it is not really a subculture any more (some would argue that, though.) If you include it in liveable virtual worlds, then that's a smaller group.

Not sure what the OP is going for, though. Seems they don't understand their study target.